https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/24/what-happens-next-with-article-50-and-brexit Parliament alone is sovereign. Brexit Supreme Court ruling on Article 50 vote In an historic judgement yesterday (24th January 2017), the Supreme Court ruled that government executive prerogative powers do not take precedence over Parliament, and that Parliament shall debate Brexit, prior to the triggering of Article 50. There are those who will still argue that the judiciary are interfering on the question of United Kingdom membership of the EU and there are elements of the media who continue to contend that judges are attempting to overturn the decision of the British people as expressed in the Referendum result of 23rd June 2016. Their argument either by accident, or more probably design, fails to address the fundamental issue involved in this controversy , which has been raging since the Prime Minister announced that Executive powers would be used to trigger Article 50 and co...
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-theresa-may-brexit-without-delay-a7399101.html May must set out Brexit plan 'without delay’ Before the referendum there was always a belief that the result would be debated in Parliament. What completely threw this government was that no one expected the result and Cameron had no plan for the possibility that that the people would vote leave. Theresa May is now faced with a referendum result, (a referendum which of course is "advisory") which she believes might be overturned by Parliament. In order to appease some elements of her party and other vested interests, she has chosen to use "Royal Prerogative" to pass the necessary legislation to trigger Article 50 without debate in Parliament. I believe that she is wrong and that the High Court judges are absolutely correct. I also believe that it would be a very brave or very foolish MP who would completely igno...
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2016/11/new-low-uk-newspapers-most-hysterical-frontpages-brexit-court-ruling A new low for UK newspapers: the most hysterical front-pages on the Brexit court ruling Reading the headlines on much of yesterdays front pages,it crossed my mind how reminiscent they were to the hysterical rantings of The Sun in the 1980's and 1990's particularly during the "reign" of the now discredited editor Kelvin MacKenzie. Kelvin MacKenzie Perhaps this odious "journalist" has been cloned, and now numerous facsimiles of him are distributed amongst the editorial offices of the Telegraph, Mail, Express, and (of course), the Sun.These, and other "newspapers", either by accident or more probably design have intentionally taken hold of the wrong end of the stick and covered the "story" in layers of spin in order to suit their particular agenda on membership of the European Union. ...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/both-houses-will-have-to-trigger-article-50-says-davis-a7396016.html Upholding the pre-eminence of Parliament and its members. Leaving aside individual views on whether or not the United Kingdom should leave the European Union, the High Court ruling made yesterday, that the matter of triggering Article 50 must be debated by Parliament, was the right one. Frequently in the past, Parliament, Lords and Commons, has been bypassed by a small clique of government ministers, an "inner cabinet" in fact, led by the Prime Minister of the day, who have taken decisions in isolation, and presented Parliament with a "fait accompli". Thus it was with Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to commence "Article 50" negotiations by the use of "The Royal Prerogative" and thereby prevent Parliament from debating an issue of momentous importance to this country now and for generations to c...
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/24/cameron-strays-from-the-script-with-corbyn-do-up-your-tie-jibe#comment-69357648 ‘Put on a proper suit, do up your tie and sing the national anthem’.” Cameron attacks Jeremy Corbyn about his clothes Baying, cat calling, yaboo, farmyard behaviour again spewing accros the chamber of the House of Commons from the government benches. This time in response to a snide patronising,loutish and rude comment from a man who calls mimself a statesman and who occupies the highest elected office in this country. Jeremy Corbyn at PMQ's Cameron sinks to a new low in his wretched performances in PMQ's, in the country, the international stage and inEurope. Another Bullingdon Club toff, uncouth and debauched showing the whole world that he is every inch the ignorant result of "establishment" training.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/03/tom-watson-wrote-to-two-dpps-to-intervene-in-sexual-abuse-cases#_=_ Tom Watson wrote to two DPP's to intervene in sexual abuse cases Tom Watson MP Why are the Guardian and other elements in the media, waging such a hysterical campaign in pursuit of an MP who asks questions? There is nothing wrong or sinister when an Member of Parliament challenges the actions or more often inaction's, of the DPP or Police or any other body in failing to pursue investigations, into allegations of criminal acts, particularly where such acts are alleged to have been committed by elements of "the establishment" and particularly where such acts involve the abuse of children. Far too often, the "authorities" terminate their enquiries into such matters using the "insufficient evidence" or "investigations are not in the public interest" or other such reasoning, to rationalise no further actions be...
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/28/house-of-lords-democracy-accountability-reform#_=_ The Lords is a ludicrous affront to democracy and accountability. says John Harris The House of Lords vote to kill off cuts to working tax credits Another glaring "affront to democracy and accountability" is the notoriously unfair "First Past the Post" electoral system. You do not hear many MP's bleating about that. Increasingly arrogant and autocratic Only when the Lords (and I am no fan of that unelected and unaccountable chamber either), defeat a pernicious Conservative government plan, a conservative plan mind you, not a Commons policy (only 26% of the electorate and all that), which will make 3 million families up to £3,000 per year worse off does the government bench, Cameron, Osborne and Johnson in particular, erupt into fits of mock outrage, threatening all sorts of dire "consequences" to the House of Lords and...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/iain-duncan-smith-calls-for-urgent-esa-overhaul-as-part-of-drive-to-cut-down-welfare-costs-10468503.html Iain Duncan Smith calls for urgent ESA overhaul as part of drive to cut down welfare costs Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan-Smith This story clearly exposes why the people of our country should not be expected to go through another 5 years of this wretched government with its malicious and divisive policies of austerity and resultant the destruction of the fabric of society. Iain Duncan Smith warns that Employment and Support Allowance, the benefit paid to the sick and disabled will be urgently overhauled. Weasel words to conceal yet another attack on those least able to defend themselves against the excesses of a government intent on creating a Tory dominated society with a totally subservient people where business and private organisations are allowed to enrich themselves at the expense of ordinary p...
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/26/tory-backbench-rebellion-defeats-hagues-attempt-to-unseat-speaker-john-bercow#comment-49539278 Tory backbench rebellion defeats Hague's attempt to unseat Speaker Hague attempted to oust Speaker Bercow He was a grubby little runt when he addressed the Tory Party Conference as a self opinionated and conceited 16 year old in 1977. Now, he is a follicly challenged self opinionated and conceited 55 year old, who has clearly, at various times during his political career, been promoted to positions far above his mental and intellectual capability. This latest cringe worthy intrigue instigated as an attempt to oust Speaker Bercow, was described as a "grubby, squalid and nauseous plot", which seems a very adequate description. A fitting end to a wretched 26 year period of ineptitude in the House of Commons for this baseball capped Yorkshire man. He has now gone and the House of Commons might be a better p...
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/07/champagne-house-of-lords-reform-taxpayer Champagne wars in the Lords as peers say no to a cheaper vintage Since 2010, the Lords has bought in 17,000 bottles of champagne This story adds to the list of things wrong with the people who populate the corridors of the Palace of Westminster. Commons and Lords, filled with people who care only for themselves and retaining their position of privilege in society. Expenses, extortionate salary increases, perks of subsidised food and alcohol and all the other trimmings of Parliamentary life are indicative of a system which is corrupt and which encourages greed and selfishness amongst those who are part of and profit from it. The phrase "Parliamentary privilege" takes on a whole new meaning when abuses and self indulgences such as this are exposed. There is a compelling argument from dissolving the whole rotten structure and starting again from scratch.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tony-blair-wants-chuka-umunna-to-be-the-next-labour-leader-9908489.html Tony Blair wants Chuka Umunna to be the next Labour leader Chuka Umunna Tony Blair The "Blairite" right emerge from the woodwork to promote another career politician/lawyer to take up where Blair left off. The destruction of the Labour party was essentially complete when Blair, Mandelson,Campbell and the others crawled off into their burrows to plot and scheme while reading their bank statements. Chuka Umunna fits very nicely into the mould and could complete the task commenced by the triumvirate and firmly fix the Labour party in that pro business, pro establishment, laying only slightly to the left of the Tory extremists who have ruled this country for the last 5 years. Working people, the sick, pensioners and benefit claimants and vast sections of British society will of course, remain ignored, unrepresented and disillus...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-independence-final-opinion-polls-show-undecided-voters-could-swing-the-result-either-way-9739059.html Final opinion polls show undecided voters could swing the result either way Cameron, Clegg and Miliband reveal the "Vow" and promise to protect "Barnett formula" For anyone in Scotland thinking about voting “No” in today’s referendum, there is a very good reason for voting with the “Yes” campaign. For anyone who thinks that the promise made by Cameron, Miliband and Clegg in respect of greater autonomy to the Scottish Parliament including powers over taxation, spending an even greater devolution, in exchange for a “No” vote, should consider what has emerged since the three “leaders” went to Scotland to unveil their “Vow” and plaster the front pages of practically every newspaper in the United Kingdom with the text. It has become apparent that not all MP's at Wes...